Sheet glass drawing means



April 19, 1932. J 1.. DRAKE 1,854,506

SHEET GLASS DRAWING MEANS Filed Feb. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet,v l

l l l April 19, 1932. J DRAKE 1,854,506

SHEET GLASS DRAWING MEANS Filed Feb. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Jhn L. Drake WZM awn-14 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 ATENT orice JQHN DRAKE,

F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 LIBBEY-OWENS-FOR-D GLASS COM- PANY, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SHEET GLASS DRAWING MEANS Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,116.

The present invention relates to sheet glass drawing means. v

.An object of the invention is to provide in sheet glass apparatus, a drawing and flattoning member composed of a plurality of pivotally associated link members.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of this nature, a table in the form of an endless conveyor and comprising a plurality of pivotally associated links, said links being so formed that the table will present a substantially solid, unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an endless belt formation comprising a plurality of pivotally associated members, said belt formation being adapted particularly for use in the production of sheet glass as a drawing and flattening table, the said table having means associated therewith whereby the same may be driven either in a clock-wise or a counter-clockwise direction.

A further object is to provide such a construction including a plurality of links each of said links havin cutaway portions in its undersurface where by suitable driving means may be associated therewith, the said links also preferably including a transverse bracing rib or member so that a table formed from the links may be subjected to elevated temperatures without injury thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like numerals are em ployed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through a form of sheet glass apparatus illustrating the invention in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail partly in section of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sec- .tion through a portion of the improved table.

Fig. 5' is a sectional perspective view of a single link which may be used, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating two of the links.

Although the present invention is not necessarily limited to use in any particular type of machine it is primarily designed for use in the Colburn type of machine such as is illustrated in the patent to Colburn 1,248,809.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 designates a working receptacle or draw pot supported on 7 suitable stools 11 ordinarily mounted in a temperature controlled compartment. The Working receptacle 10 is adapted to contain a mass 0 molten glass 12 which may be supplied thereto continuously or substantially continuously from any suitable type of furnace. A sheet 13 is adapted to be continuously drawn from the mass of'molten glass 12, the said sheet being deflected from the vertical plane into the horizontal plane over a bending roll or the like 14:.

A drawing and flattening table member designated in its entirety by the numeral 15 is ordinarily used when producing sheet glass 1 in accordance with the Colburn process and the sheet may be supported between the bending roll 14: and the said drawing and flattening table 15 upon a roll 16 which may or may not be positively driven as desired. Associated with and arranged over the drawing and flattening table 15 is a clamp bar arrangement 17 which will be more fully described hereinafter. The sheet passes from the drawing and flattening table 15 into a horizontally arranged annealing leer which is not shown but which will be readily understood by those familiar with the production of sheet glass.

The proper operation of the drawing and flattening table 15 is extremely important as it has a considerable bearing on the quality of sheet produced. In the past it has been customary to construct the drawing and flattening tables from a plurality of pivotally associated links so arranged with respect to one another that gaps or open spacesare created between adjacent links. The temperature of the sheet in its horizontal run transverse rods 23.

and when it contacts with the drawing table is such that the sheet is often times marked or marred by the table links. Burners, etc. are also ordinarily arranged in the compartment containing the draw table to control the temperature thereof and the sheet being acted upon. However, it is diflicult to accurately obtain a desired temperature and then maintain this temperature within said compartment. An ideal condition is one where the glass can be flattened and yet wherein this flattening can be accomplished without permitting the glass to sag within the openings between the links above referred to.

hen the sheet is sufficiently hot so that it can sag between the links of the draw table, so-called link marks will be formed on the glass between the adjacent links and a surface defect will of course spoil the sheet to a certain extent depending upon the size and the depth thereof. On the other hand, if the temperature of the glass and the draw table is too cold the desired flattening will not be obtained. In accordance with the present invention, specially designed links are used and these links are adapted to be associated'with one another in such a manner that a table having a substantially flat unbroken surface devoid of open spaces will be provided to the end that the sheet can be supported thereon and suitably flattened without subjecting it to the danger of link marks, etc.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings is illustrated in section a link 18, which link may be formed from any suitable metal such as steel, nichrom'e, monel, nichromiuni metal, etc. he

link 18 preferably has a single ear 19 at one end and a pair of spaced ears 20 and 21 at the opposite end thereof as more particularly shown in Fig. 6. The single ear 19 is positioned intermediate the opposite sides of the.

link to form the resultant shoulders 19 at the opposite sides thereof while the ears 2O and 21 are formed at the opposite sides of said link to create a. recess or space 21"therebetween. The ears each have transverse openings 22 therethrough by which means the links may be pivotally associate-d by the Each link has an upper side 24 and it will be seen that the underside of each link is hollowed or cut out to provide recesses or cut out portions 25 and 26 respectively separated by means of a trans verse reinforcing member or rib 27.

The links 18 are adapted to be coupled together preferably in an endless belt forma tion to form a siutable drawing and flattening table which is supported in its upper horizontal run or fli ht upon draw table rails or guides 28 mounted upon cross beams 29. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2 the ends of the draw table rails 28 are inclined downaway from the sheet 13 before it is passed around the sprocket members driving the same. In this way there will be no tendency for the links to dig into the under-surface of the sheet as they pass into or out of their upper horizontal run.

l/Vhen the links are coupled together to form the table 15, the single ear 19 of each link is received within the space 21 between the spaced ears 20 and 21 of the adjacent link and the transverse rods 23 are then passed through the aligned openings 22. It will be noted that a plurality of parallel rows of links are employed, the number thereof depending upon the width of table desired and as shown particularly in Fig. 6, the links of alternate rows are oppositely arranged. In other words, the single ears of the links of one row are opposite the double ears of the links of the adjacent row and vice versa for a purpose to be more clearly hereinafter apparent.

The numeral 30 designates in its entirety a sprocket member mounted upon a shaft 31. This sprocket member 30 extends transversely the entire width of the draw table and comprises a plurality of spaced discs 32, one being provided for eachrow of links. Every other disc 32 is provided with a plurality of equi-distantly spaced teeth 33 while the remaining discs arranged alternately with the first discs are provided with similar teeth 34, the teeth 33 being arranged slightly in advance of the teeth 34 as shown in Fig. 2. Paraphrasing the above, the teeth of alternate discs are arranged in line with one another and since the teeth 33 and 34 are ar ranged in staggered relation, there are created two rows of teeth extending transversely of the table namely, the row of teeth 33 and the row of teeth 34, said rows being so arranged that there is a space or gap 35 between the teeth of one row and the teeth of the other row.

The teeth 33 are in advance of the teeth 34 and are adapted to be received within the cut out portions or recesses 25 of the links while the teeth 34 are adapted to be received within the recesses 26 of said links. The space or gap 33 between the rows of teeth is slightly greater than the thickness of the ribs 27.

The sprockets or at least one of them is preferably positively driven .and when driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2, the table will be moved in a counterclockwise direction to draw the sheet 13 from the mass of molten glass 12.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, when the table is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, the teeth 33 will be received within the iLJ cut-out portions or recesses 25 of the links of every other row and are adapted to bear against the ears 19 of the adjacent preceding links. During the driving of the table in this manner, it will also be seen that the teeth 34: are received Within the recesses 25 of the 7' links of alternate rows but are not in actual engagement with any portion of the links. As brought out above, the teeth of adjacent rows are oppositely arranged and it is because of this arrangement that the teeth 33 and 34 are respectively received Within the recesses 25 of the links of alternate rows.

Upon reversal of rotation of the table, however, the links 34: will bear against the ears 19 of the adjacent links to move the table in the opposite direction while the teeth 33 will be moved out of engagement with the links.

It will be seen that the links, when arranged in operative position, present a flat horizontally disposed surface which can support a plastic sheet of glass without injury thereto. As a matter of fact since the links are formed from a suitable metal the glass can be relatively very plastic so that it can settle down into a flat condition thus improving on the sheet which initially reaches the draw table. That is, if the sheet is slightly bowed or warped when it reaches the draw table, due to the flatness of the surface of said draw table when in its upper horizontal run, the glass can be suitably flattened by proper temperature control.

The clamp bars 17 are preferably so constructed that they engage the sheet at the edges only and are utilized to increase the tractive pull on the sheet of glass whereby to prevent slippage between said sheet and the draw table.

Particular attention is called to the fact that although a flat substantially unbroken surface is presented by the draw table when in its upper horizontal run, suitable driving neans can be associated with the table to positively drive the same either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape,

size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim 1. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, and sprocket means for positively driving said table either in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, said sprocket means including a plurality of teeth, certain of the teeth engaging the links when driving the table in one direction and the remaining teeth engaging the links when driving the table in the reverse direction.

2. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, said links having v recesses formed in the undersides thereof, and sprocket means for positively driving the table either in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, the teeth of said sprocket means being received within the recesses in such a manner that certain of the teeth engage the links when driving the table in one direction while the remaining teeth engage the links when driving the table in the reverse direction. v

3. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of transversely arranged longitudinally extending rows of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, and driving means for the table engaging alternate longitudinal rows of links.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of rows of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, and means for driving the table in opposite directions, said driving means engaging certain rows of links when driving the table in one direction and other rows of links when driving the table in the reverse direction.

5. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of transversely arranged longitudinally extending rows of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, and sprocket means engaging alternate longitudinal rows of links for positively driving the table either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. 7

6. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of rows of pivotally associated links arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface when disposed in operative sheet engaging position, and llIlkS having recesses formed in the undersides thereof, and sprocket means for positively driving the table either in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, certain of the teeth of said sprocket means being received within the recesses of alternate rows of links for driving the table in one direction and other teeth being received within the recesses of the remaining rows of links for driving the table in the reverse direction.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table including a plurality of pivotally associated inks arranged relative to one another so that they will present a substantially solid unbroken surface When disposed in operative sheet engaging position, said links havin recesses formed in the undersides thereof and separated by a transverse reenforcing rib, and

sprocket means for positively driving the JOHN L. DRAKE. 

